Forest Weather: Understanding and Preventing Fires
Forest weather forecasts are an essential tool for informing and raising public awareness of the danger of fire, especially during the summer months. With 9 out of 10 fires being caused by humans, it is crucial to understand this tool and adopt the right habits to prevent fires from starting.
What is Forest Weather?
Forest Weather is an initiative by Météo-France aimed at informing the public about the risk of forest and vegetation fires. It indicates a risk level based on weather forecasts and the dryness of vegetation. This information is provided at the departmental level for the following day after, with four risk levels: low, moderate, high and very high.
How does Forest Weather work ?
Forest Weather is updated daily at 5 p.m. for the next two days. It uses a colour code to indicate the level of danger :
This information is available on the website:
(https://meteofrance.com/meteo-des-forets) et l'application mobile de Météo-France.
Why is Forest Weather important ?
Due to climate change, most of the territory is vulnerable to forest and vegetation fires. Forest Weather helps inform and rase public awareness about the danger of fires and encourages people to adopt the right habits to prevent fires from starting.
How are forest weather forecasts produced ?
The information is compiled by Météo-France teams based on several criteria:
- Weather observations and forecasts (high temperatures, lack of rain, low air humidity, wind strength)
- The dryness of vegetation
- Land use in the department
- Areas prone to fires
Good habits to prevent fires
To prevent fires, here are some good habits to adopt :
- Hold barbecues at home, on a patio and away from vegetation
- Dispose of cigarette butts in an ashtray and do not smoke in the forest
- Carry out work that generates sparks away from lawns and dry grass
- Store flammable products (wood, gas) away from the house
What to do in case of fire ?
In case of fire, follow these steps:
- Raise the alarm by calling 112, le 18 ot 114 (for the hearing impaired) and try to locate the fire
- Take shelter in a cleared building while waiting for the emergency services to arrive
- Stay informed about the situation and follow the instructions given by the emergency services or the town hall.
Forest weather is a valuable tool for preventing fires and protecting our environment. By understanding how it works and adopting the right habits, we can all help reduce the risk of forest and vegetation fires.